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| Fairy tale celebrates real-life milestone By Stacy Trevenon [ stacy@hmbreview.com ] Published/Last Modified on Wednesday, April 29, 2009 11:21 AM PDT With a lighthearted musical set in a Renaissance fair, Coastal Theatre Conservatory celebrates its 15th anniversary. Complete with kings, queens, wizard, jester, prince and hopeful princesses, “Once Upon a Mattress” runs May 1 through May 10. With multiple casts built from the 93 kindergarten through eighth-grade CTC students, it runs at 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, with 1 p.m. matinees Saturdays and Sundays. Built on the classic “Princess and the Pea” fairy tale and enhanced with emotive and festive dance by choreographer Leigh Ann Koelsch, the story blends fantasy and fun. The stage décor and theater will highlight the fantasy, said CTC director Michael Lederman. “We’re trying to take ‘Once Upon a Mattress’ and give it as much of a Renaissance Pleasure Faire feeling as possible,” he said. Originally written for TV, Carol Burnett and Tracey Ullman, “Once Upon a Mattress” “is one that the little ones are going to love,” said Lederman. The musical will also allow CTC to celebrate its 15th anniversary, with characters from its previous shows. Annie, Tevye, Dorothy, Charlie Chaplin, Alice and the White Rabbit, Peter Pan, Wonka, Cinderella, Harold Hill, the Fairy Godmother, Pinocchio and dwarfs — some original actors reprising the roles — will make an appearance. The musical is also a tribute to theater supporter Lene Whitley-Putz. “She is a superstar mom,” said Lederman, adding that, “This is also a tribute to the incredible talent and history of this program.” Admission to “Once Upon a Mattress” is $15/reserved seats, available through coastalrep.com or at the door. For information, call 569-3266. |